“A potential compromise” in North Down?
At the weekend a Conservative Party spokesman ruled out suggestions of a “special dispensation” for the independently minded Lady Sylvia Hermon to run as an Ulster Unionist candidate in North Down. And, as the UUP’s 5pm deadline for nominations to be their North Down candidate approaches, the BBC reports that the North Down MP “has said she will not apply to stand for election under the joint Ulster Unionist and Conservative banner.” Which has been both sides consistent views. Who will blink first? Adds The UUP has selected its nominees in all other constituencies.
Is your wan in Mid Ulster a daughter of Billy Armstrong’s or did I just imagine reading that on slugger in the past?
Sandra Overend’s maiden name is Armstrong.
Posted by BryanS on Feb 23, 2010 @ 04:36 PM
Thanks for your response.
Seems that we have the same local v central democratic deficit in all political parties Ireland, North and South! It is no longer about service to the party or branch choices and all to do with the Party Leaders/Backroom Boys ( and Gals)/Handlers/Spin Doctors etc, etc to decide.
Reminds me of a Star Treck episode where each continent in a visited world conduct a virtual nuclear war in which a games victory by one side is followed by the defeated side having to actually eliminate their own city that they had lost !
How long before we get to a situation where all these realpowers in parties meet collectively and emerge from the conference room conclave to announce who the new term public representatives are, what party or combination of parties will rule, and who the Leader and Government Ministers will be.
Sure could beat all this election fuss and uncertainty, a conclave meeting in the morning and a new parliament and government in the afternoon, provided new members could be contacted in time to tell them of the result of course!
Just heard that Lady Hermon is to meet a Labour representitive on radio Ulster. Could North Down be the first place in Northern Ireland to have a Conservative v Labour battle??
Also hearing Adrian Watson beat Col Tim Collins for the UU nomination for South Antrim. WTF???
“Also hearing Adrian Watson beat Col Tim Collins for the UU nomination for South Antrim. ”
This if true is TERRIBLE.
Why terrible slug? I understood TC was a self promoting ego.
TC announced some time ago he had no interest in standing in NI.
The Conservative question is – are Sheila Davison, Peter McCann and Deidre Nelson still in contention for their prefered seats?
And when are the conservatives going to give us a list of their preferred candidates in each seat????
“TC announced some time ago he had no interest in standing in NI.”
Yeah not sure if I believe if Col. Collins and south antrim story either, the uup would never be that stupid to reject him, he would have locked south antrim for the uup.
“The Conservative question is – are Sheila Davison, Peter McCann and Deidre Nelson still in contention for their prefered seats?”
Apparently they are.
As I understand it, they’re not only still in, they are regarded as essential to the idea of the UCUNF project- surely it only works of there are some Tories in?. The question is why didn’t they join the UUP in the first place? Surely they’d have been welcomed with open arms- having seen the UUP list, there’s no one really jumping out other than Ringland and Nesbitt. Add McCann, Davidson and Nelson to those two and it begins to look like a game.
with regard to South Antrim I had heard Colonel Tim was in contention for Lady Hermon’s seat.
[quote]Labour chiefs court disenchanted Hermon
THE most senior Labour Party member in Northern Ireland has appealed for North Down MP Lady Hermon to join Labour after it was confirmed that she will not run for the Conservatives and Unionists.
Last night the Ulster Unionists confirmed that Lady Hermon, who has repeatedly made clear her unhappiness at the UUP’s alliance with the Tories, had not submitted an application by the 5pm deadline for nominations in North Down.
[b]Were the North Down MP to do so, she would be the first British Labour Party MP in Northern Ireland. It would also be an ironic twist, representing a step towards bringing to Northern Ireland the national politics which the Conservative-UUP project is about.[/b][/quote]
This just gets more and more interesting by the day
.
Sorry forgot to post link.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/politics/Labour-chiefs-court-disenchanted-Hermon.6099189.jp
[quote]Add McCann, Davidson and Nelson to those two and it begins to look like a game.[/quote]
The problem is Bradshaw, Trimble and Ringland are all excellent candidates as well and there are other less inspiring candidates (albeit it unwinnable seats) that could be replaced. I would love to see a Trimble beat weeeeee Jefferey.
[quote]with regard to South Antrim I had heard Colonel Tim was in contention for Lady Hermon’s seat.[/quote]
That is very interesting, but regarding Colonel Collins being a candidate I will believe it when I see it
.
Conservatives seem to be distancing themselves from the ‘gang of three’ – I am not sure that any of them will get a go this time round.
As for TC – It’s simply not on the crds.
Why is everyone thinking that Lady Hermon is Labour Party material simply because she has issues with the Tories in the context of a pact or merger with the UUP. She is a UUP member, she is a UUP MP, and that is the start middle and end of her political beliefs. She will not be standing as a Labour candidate!!
I am confident that she will stand as an Independent and will wipe out the opposition from wherever it comes. Hope David Cameron doesn’t need her vote in a hung parliament. He might just be disappointed with her response.
[quote]Why is everyone thinking that Lady Hermon is Labour Party material simply because she has issues with the Tories in the context of a pact or merger with the UUP.[/quote]
Didn’t she basically say she was a Labour gal? And no-one claimed what you said above.
[quote]She is a UUP member, she is a UUP MP, and that is the start middle and end of her political beliefs.[/quote]
Obviously not or else she would still be in the UUP after the election. So its not the start, middle and end, she is obviously more complex than that.
[quote]She will not be standing as a Labour candidate!![/quote]
Wow sorry synic, never realised it was your call.
[quote]I am confident that she will stand as an Independent and will wipe out the opposition from wherever it comes.[/quote]
She might do, she might not. Who knows, all we have is speculation at this point.
But since the SDLP has decided to dander further down the nationalist with Ritchie, there is a gap for non-secretarian social democrat politics. Labour can nestle here nicely with links to the British and Irish Labour parties if they try.
Lady Hermon is by far, the most able and worthy MP we have in NI. I hope she wins her seat under Labour and rises in the ranks of that party. She’s the only politician here I can point to and be proud off.
well, I’m sure I’m going to get flamed for this… but she won’t join Labour. Why wait until now?
Why not announce she has left the UUP (which she is still a member, just not a candidate) and joined us when she didn’t nominate herself for the UUP selection?
It doesn’t add up and sadly it looks like Boyd is just soothing her ego.
My personal view is, if she joined it would be a big boost to us. However as she is often called the ‘independently minded’ MP and has pretty much ignored her own parties hierarchy the last 5 years I can’t see her giving the LPNI hierarchy much attention when it comes to her statements and decisions.
But, I could be wrong…